Youth activist and social worker Judith Halbreich is changing these statistics with the launch of “Home of The Champions” (HOC) an innovative non-profit that gives foster youth in college a home base, facilitating their success in academia and beyond.

Fostering Growth and Leadership.

Life isn’t easy for the 400,000 American kids in foster care. Entrenched amidst instability, they face major obstacles to success including a lack of financial and emotional support. Although many of these kids are ambitious and have dreams of attending college, they often age out of the system right when they need to begin preparing and applying. It’s no wonder why less than 10% of foster kids attend college, and of that number, less than 26% will graduate.

Youth activist and social worker Judith Halbreich is changing these statistics with the launch of “Home of The Champions” (HOC) an innovative non-profit that gives foster youth in college a home base, facilitating their success in academia and beyond.

With a legacy of champions built into the organization, HOC is located in New Paltz, NY at the former home of boxing legend Floyd Patterson and still holds the original boxing ring where he and fellow world heavyweight champions Muhammad Ali and Ingemar Johansson trained.

“We intend to continue the heritage and legacy of this historical symbolic entity by working to emphasize the positive attributes of disconnected youth, challenging them to match Patterson, Ali, and Johansson’s tenacious spirit and willpower, and empowering them to become the best versions of themselves…”

…says Halbreich who was inspired to create HOC after receiving a surprising message from a former foster child previously on her caseload. “Sarah called to thank me for caring and believing that she had the capacity to go to college,” says Halbreich. “She was always ambitious and driven but she had the deck stacked against her. Before we met, her mother had bitten off her lip and earlobe and submerged her hand in boiling oil. Despite these incredible challenges, she DID go to college and is now the director of a drug rehab in the Bronx. Her success story was the impetus for HOC, and what inspired me to revive a personal mission that had been lying dormant.”

As Muhammad Ali once said, “Champions aren’t made in gyms…they are made from something they have deep inside them – a desire, a dream, a vision…” – which is why HOC focuses on youth who have transitioned out of foster care and have been accepted into college on their own merit. The program is designed to identify future leaders among foster care youth and provide the support necessary for them to achieve their full potential as strong role-models and productive members of society. HOC holds leadership summits that teach participants sustainable life skills and gives them the confidence to be innovators and to achieve their goals. It also has available valuable resources like mentorship and a consortium of businesses to make finding a job after graduation easier.

“During COVID, disadvantaged youth are severely affected by lack of support and connection. They need our help now more than ever. We created a specific curriculum in response to COVID to future-proof our learners and prepare them for the new normal of life – emotionally, physically, and financially…”

…says Halbreich, who is on a mission to embolden the leaders of tomorrow through lessons on hard work and the cultivation of the spirit.

Judith Halbreich is available for interviews, to write articles, and can provide commentary on this topic.

“We intend to continue the heritage and legacy of this historical symbolic entity by working to emphasize the positive attributes of disconnected youth, challenging them to match Patterson, Ali, and Johansson’s tenacious spirit and willpower, and empowering them to become the best versions of themselves.“

– Judith Halbreich

In An Interview/Article, Judith Halbreich Can Share:

• Home of the Champions: A Non-Profit Helping Foster Kids Fight for a Better Future
• Life Lessons from the Boxing Ring
• What People Need to Know About the Challenges Foster Youth Face in Their Journey to Getting a College Degree
• Information & Free Resources for Foster Kids, Foster Families, & Caregivers
• Actionable Advice for the General Public on How they Can Help Disadvantaged Youth Find Success
• Why Disconnected Youth Need Our Help Now in the Age of COVID More than Ever

She can share insight to the challenges foster youth face and has actionable advice for the general public on how they can help. She also has information and free resources for foster kids, caregivers, and disadvantaged youth.